A few tears shed

My oldest granddaughter graduated from high school today..I did really well except when she did a little hand wave at us when she spotted us up in the seating area.    So proud of her!  

After the graduation, we had lunch and then Jerry and I got on the road for a drive out west to Colorado as the graduate and her friends has some plans that did not include parents and grandparents.     From where we were in Boone, we had to go through the mountains to get to connect with I-75.  There was  not an easy way...or  we could go the easy long way around and take more time.   So we left out about 2pm and drove for six and a half hours  NONSTOP..the first two hours were through the Cherokee National Forest on a 22 mile road that was nothing but curves and switchbacks.   I was not driving but it was very roller coastery!!    Then by the time we got to Bristol, the first place to stop, we passed it up.   Then we drove another four hours on much better straight roads through the Cumberland National Forest and Cumberland Gap..where went went through a tunnel about a mile long under the mountain.    Finally got to a good stopping point for the night in Kentucky,  had some supper, stopped at Walmart to get me some more medicine for this crappy cold.   It is better but if I get too hot, the coughing is horrendous.     

We are so grateful that we left our dog at our son's house while we make this trip.  She would not have been happy being in the car for the length of time we were today.     

Tomorrow is a long day of driving for us but we are familiar with the road and know the best places for stopping and being Sunday, hopefully not too much traffic.    We will see how many miles and how far we get going across the US.    The middle of Kansas is our goal.   

Thanks for all the comments on the watery peony yesterday.  Too tired to respond but I do appreciate the stars and comments.